iDREAM, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to advancing racial equity and inclusivity within media and creative industries, last week announced the opening of applications for the second annual iDREAM Awards.
The iDREAM (Inclusivity, Diversity, Racial Equity Award in Media) Awards recognize and support extraordinary contributions of underrepresented and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) creators and innovators across five categories: Art, Entrepreneurship, Film, Music and Sport.
“Individuals and organizations doing innovative, community-shaping work in these categories are encouraged to apply through the iDREAM website for the opportunity to receive $1 million in donated advertising space per category — spanning digital, broadcast, out-of-home, and print media — or a total of $5 million in awarded media support,” reads a Feb. 17 press release from iDREAM.
The iDREAM Awards are a media-led equity initiative designed to address systemic barriers by pairing recognition with tangible, high-value resources, the press release said. Award recipients are selected based on creativity, leadership and demonstrated impact within their communities and industries.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of leaders from media, entertainment and social-impact sectors. Past judges have included Kevin Johnson, president of media agency WPP Canada, award-winning actor Amanda Brugel, and Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, CEO of The BlackNorth Initiative.
Applications close June 30. Award recipients will be announced in summer 2026, launching a full year of dedicated, category-specific advertising support for each recipient. Each customized $1-million media campaign will include strategic media planning, industry consultation and partner collaboration to maximize reach and long-term impact, iDREAM’s press release said.
iDREAM is led by a diverse board of media professionals, employees and volunteers from across Canada’s advertising, marketing and creative industries. Leading sponsors NBA, HP and Speedy Transport are among early adopters to get involved.
Major media support for the iDREAM Awards is donated by partners including Adapt Media, UB Media, Zoom, Bell Media, Allvision, Rogers Sports and Media, Vendo Media, APTN, Blue Ant Media, Corus Entertainment, Pelmorex, Lamar, Stingray Media, Captivate, Grassroots, Rec Media, Toronto Star, Atelier La Presse, Air Canada, Branded Cities, Cogeco, Billboard Canada and George Brown College, among others.
“Entering our second year, the iDREAM Awards are no longer just a bold idea, they’re a proven platform for redistributing visibility and opportunity in Canadian media,” said Jamie Thompson, founder of iDREAM, in a statement. “We’ve seen firsthand how access to meaningful media support can accelerate impact. Our goal remains the same: to ensure underrepresented creators and organizations have the scale, reach, and credibility they deserve.”
Last year’s recipients of the iDREAM Awards can be viewed here. The iDREAM 2025 Impact Report is available here.
